Nick Ball Dominates Rios to Retain WBA Featherweight Title

Nick Ball successfully defended his WBA featherweight world title by delivering a punishing 10th-round stoppage against Ronny Rios at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena. The 27-year-old fighter dominated the bout, landing powerful combinations and knocking Rios down in the third and seventh rounds. Despite suffering a nosebleed early on, Ball unleashed a flurry of punches that sent Rios tumbling out of the ring, prompting Rios’s corner to throw in the towel.

“It’s boxing; you’re going to get a little nosebleed; it’s what makes champions,” Ball remarked after the fight. With this victory, Ball improved his record to 21 wins, one draw, and 12 stoppages, solidifying his position among the top featherweights globally. During the match, Ball showcased his relentless style. He overpowered Rios, landing hooks and uppercuts that kept the American challenger on the defensive.

Although Rios managed to inflict some damage, Ball’s intensity remained unmatched, as he consistently targeted Rios’s weaknesses. This victory marks Ball’s third fight of 2024 and his first in Liverpool in over four years, having previously fought in Saudi Arabia. Following this win, Ball now focuses on unification bouts against champions like Rafael Espinoza (WBO) and Angelo Leo (IBF) while also expressing interest in a rematch with WBC champion Rey Vargas.

Former champion Stephen Fulton will serve as Ball’s mandatory challenger after moving up in weight and Nick Ball dreams of a showdown with Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue. A victory over Inoue would elevate Ball to global stardom and secure his place among the pound-for-pound elite in boxing.